Assembly Passes Muñoz Bill to Ensure Delivery of Oxygen to Patient Homes During Public Emergencies

TRENTON, N.J. – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz requiring licensed oxygen providers and pharmacies to have an emergency plan to delivery oxygen to patients’ homes during a public health emergency today received approval from the General Assembly.

“Patients who have emphysema and other chronic pulmonary diseases may experience medical complications as well as anxiety when they do not have access to their supplemental oxygen,” said Muñoz (R-Union). “People who require oxygen at home don’t need the added burden of worrying whether they will have access to it during a public emergency such as Superstorm Sandy when most of the state was virtually shut down. This measure ensures that providers have a plan to deliver life-sustaining oxygen when such a situation occurs.”

The bill (A-680) requires licensed oxygen providers and pharmacies to adopt an emergency action plan to deliver oxygen to a patient’s residence during a public health emergency.